Napoli let a one-goal lead slip in their Europa League semi-final first leg to draw 1-1 with Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk.
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The home side enjoyed the vast majority of the possession in front of an expectant crowd at the San Paolo and took the lead on 50 minutes through David Lopez.
However, the Ukrainian side responded well and found a late equalizer when substitute Yevhen Seleznyov fired home from close range.
Rafael Benitez’s side attacked with cohesion and confidence in the first half, but were unable to break the deadlock.
It took a set piece to give them the lead, as Lorenzo Insigne’s corner kick was headed past Denys Boyko by Barcelona-born midfielder Lopez.
Napoli had complete control of the contest, and ought to have added to their tally, but despite taking 20 shots throughout the course of the match, were unable to double their lead.
They paid the price ten minutes before the end when Seleznyov, brought off the bench to make an impact, did just that, muscling past several Napoli defenders to finish past Andujar after a fine cross from Artem Fedetskiy.
While few in attendance will doubt that Napoli were the better of the two sides, Dnipro will be delighted with their away goal and will return to the banks of the Dnieper buoyed by their away goal and their encouraging second-half display.
They will be confident of doing enough in the second-leg to advance to the final in Warsaw, where they will meet either Sevilla or Fiorentina, although the former, last year’s champions, are overwhelming favourites to advance having won their semi-final first leg 3-0.
Napoli boss Benitez is looking to become the first-ever manager to win the Europa League with three different clubs, having previously won the competition with both Liverpool and Valencia.